Been Gone Too Long...

   Wow, I can't believe I haven't posted since last January. I have been very busy with many projects and I also have my own Gardening Maintenance and Design business so spring, summer and fall are my busiest times. I look forward to winter so I have some down time to focus on making art and various other projects that were neglected the rest of the year ( like updating my blog ). I am fairly active on Facebook where I have many albums of the projects and art I have been working on. I would also like to get my blog up to date and get some interesting content to read and look at.

   I plan to add a portfolio to the blog and start selling my art designs on www.Cafepress.com and possibly www.Etsy.com  I would also like to write and illustrate a children's book that I have been getting ideas for the last couple of years. I have no shortage of ideas for projects but just need to focus and accomplish them one at a time, also prioritize which ones are most important to me. OK, now to get up and running!!

Here Fishy, Fishy

This is a funky little fish I drew on some colored textured paper with colored pencils and ink. I like to experiment with different papers to see what the results will be.

"Cold Weather Indicators"

Since I live in Wisconsin we have temperature extremes and I am also a gardener.  I have made an observance of a rhododendron plant in my garden. This rhododendron plant keeps it's leaves all year long. My husband and I can tell if it is really cold outside just by looking out our front window at this plant. When the weather is mild (above freezing ) the leaves on the plant are flat and spread out, but when it is very cold they curl up tightly and do not look very happy. Just thought this was interesting :)

Can You Say "Psykko"

Ok, this piece is a little wild and off the wall. I had drawn it awhile ago and decided to color it in.  I used watercolor pencils on watercolor paper then I wet the colored areas to blend the soluble pencils.  I like it, it is fun and funky and a bit crazy. Can you see what stuff goes on in my head?  I am never bored...

A New Pet Portrait

I was commissioned to do a pet portrait for a cute Corgi mix dog.   I love doing pet portraits as I am a big animal lover myself with many pets of my own throughout my life. This is the reference photo I was given and my version of what I see him to be. I started out by sketching in pencil and then black lined him with ink. I then used markers to color him in and finished with colored pencil to add depth and texture.

He is fun, colorful and whimsical with a wee bit of seriousness to him. 

His name is "Charlie"

"Charlie"    ©2011 Paula Radl

Happy New Year 2012!!

I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday season visiting with family and friends. At this time of year I have a little more down time to work on my art and various projects I didn't have time for in the busy months of the year when I am doing gardening. I have my own gardening business where I provide the service of being your own personal gardener and taking care of the plants and flowers throughout the spring, summer and fall. This keeps me very busy but I truly enjoy seeing the benefits of my labor when a customers garden/landscaping is providing so much beauty. I will try to add more pictures of my art and thrifty garden ideas as I make them, so stay tuned for more fun and inspiration.

This piece I had made for my 2011 Christmas card.

I used a piece of vintage sheet music and scanned it, then printed it in this purplish shade to look like night time.  I then drew the picture and colored it with Prismacolor colored pencils.  I call this piece "Silent Night" as the words of the Christmas song from the sheet music are visible through the drawing.

Paula Radl © 2011 

Vintage Cheese Grater Wind Chimes

This is the before and after picture of what you can do with an old vintage cheese grater, silverware, beads (from old necklaces), buttons, bells and some wire (the copper wire was recycled from an old motor)
MAKE WIND CHIMES!!

Thrifty Solar Lamp

This summer as I was going to some rummage sales and thrifty shopping I came across these old lamps and decided to make them into a solar lamp for on my deck.  Here are some pictures of the process.

Funky Family Pendant

I made these pendants for each member of my family. they are made from some copies of old family photos and are under glass. The wedding picture of my Mom and Dad on one side and then the picture of all us kids on the other. I soldered the edges and added a bead dangle.

THE WEEK AS ART - June 19-25, 2011

I contributed to the Create Mixed Media website by making "THE WEEK AS ART" for June 19-25, I tried to be creative and use various ways to create the numbers of the week using collage, mixed media, drawing and assemblage.

 It can be found at http://www.createmixedmedia.com/